Sophisticated Lighting Pendants

Increase your kitchen’s sophistication level with the right drop lighting

Sophisticated pendant lighting is widely becoming the most popular form of lighting throughout the home. In the kitchen they are especially prevalent due to their practicality and the polished way they light up workspaces, highlight dining vignettes and make a décor concept crystal clear. Though there are endless styles and an endless number of ways to use pendant lights, to create a sophisticated look in your kitchen, keep a few factors in mind.

Height

There’s nothing sophisticated about a kitchen where everyone is hitting their heads on the lighting. It may seem silly to mention, but carefully considering the height of your kitchen pendant lights is essential. The recommended height a pendant light should be hung over a dining table for example, is 75 centimetres. If a pendant light is placed in the middle of the kitchen, it should be hung between 45 centimetres and 60 centimetres higher than the tallest person living in the home. That will ensure no one feels like ducking when they walk through the space.

It is essential to consider the height of your kitchen pendant lights. (c) leicht.com

Function

Do you need workspace light? Will your pendants be lighting up a dining space? Do you just want to create ambient lighting throughout the kitchen? The functional requirements of sophisticated pendant lighting can drastically effect what type of pendant light you choose.

For instance, clear glass pendant lights are great for providing unobstructed light to a workspace, like a countertop, or kitchen island. Though they have been passed over recently due to their size, globe pendants inspired by the 1970s, bring a polished edge to a matte marble workspace. A cluster of 10 to 20 hand blown teardrop glass pendants, can also make a serious style statement when hung over a breakfast bar.

Clear glass pendant lights are great for providing unobstructed light to a workspace, like a countertop, or kitchen island. (c) team7.com

If ambient lighting for a dining space is needed, a linen drum pendant is a wonderful option. Its simple and unfussy style brings instant elegance to a kitchen. A chandelier is a classic option too. Their sparkle and undulating forms soften the hard lines of granite-topped dining table, and bring an unexpected level of glamour to a rustic space.

A simple and unfussy linen drum pendant is a wonderful option which brings instant elegance to a kitchen. (c) ilve.com

Design style

The design style of your kitchen will have a direct effect on the type of sophisticated pendant lighting you choose. A retro-inspired kitchen with mint green appliances for instance, is instantly perked up with orange ceramic pendants from the 1950s. If your small kitchen has been decorated in a light monochromatic scheme to enhance what little space there is, perhaps adding oversize pendants, like stainless steel dome lights, is an idea? Lightly coloured glass pendants instantly add a pop of colour to a monochromatic space, while modern and muscular industrial lights can add a sleek finish to a “rough luxe” kitchen style.